Don't Reward Russia's Aggression

A free-trade agreement that includes the U.S., Europe, Russia and Russia's neighbors is a grand idea, but it seems to reward and encourage bad behavior.

May 11, 2014 1:47 p.m. ET

German economist Hans-Werner Sinn explains "Why We Should Give Putin a Chance" (op-ed, May 3) by offering Russia some economic carrots rather than swinging more economic sticks that anger hard-liners and precipitate another Cold War.

A free-trade agreement that includes the U.S., Europe, Russia and Russia's neighbors is a grand idea, but it seems to reward and encourage bad behavior. And Mr. Sinn's fractured account of history, with Russia given accolades for peacefully relinquishing control of Germany, is a bit...